- Class: 12th
- Subject: Social Science (Political Science)
- Topic: The End of Bipolarity
- Resources: Notes, Important Questions
Class 12 Social Science (Political science ) -The End of Bipolarity Get notes here, questions for class 12th. Those candidates who are ambitious to pass class 12 with good marks, can check this article for notes, by practicing this resource, the candidates get to know that their weak areas and good for the exam How to prepare.
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| SOVIET |
The Soviet System
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) emerged after the Socialist Revolution in Russia in 1917. The Socialist Revolution was influenced by the ideals of socialism and the need for egalitarian society, as against the capitalism. Thus, this system tried to abolish the institution of private property and promoted a society based on principles of equality.
Characteristics of Soviet System
The characteristics of Soviet System are discussed below
- After the Second World War, the Soviet Union became a powerful nation. Except the US, its economy was developed as compared to other nations.
- It had a complex communications network, vast energy resources including oil, iron and steel, machinery production and a transport sector which connected its remotest areas with efficiency.
- A minimum standard of living was assured for all the citizens under the Soviet System. Basic necessities like health, education, childcare and other welfare schemes were subsidised by the government.
- Unemployment was not there at that time. Assets like land and produce were owned and controlled by the Soviet state. Thus, State ownership was supreme form of ownership.
Drawbacks of Soviet System
There were some drawbacks in Soviet System.
- The Soviet System became very bureaucratic and authoritarian in nature. It became difficult for its citizens to express their problems.
- Problems like lack of democracy and absence of freedom of speech stifled the people to express their disagreements against the government in jokes and cartoons.
- The Soviet System was based on one-party system represented by Communist Party which had tight control over all institution There was lack of accountability towards the people.
- The party refused to fulfil the needs and aspirations of the people in fifteen different republics to manage their own affairs including their cultural affairs. Russia dominated everything and people from other republics felt neglected and suppressed.
- The Soviet Union spent a lot on technology and infrastructure to match the US military capabilities. The Soviet Union lagged behind the West in technology, infrastructure e.g transport, power and most importantly, in fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of citizens.
- The Soviet System was weakened after the Afghanistan invasion in 1979 as its productivity and technology fell miserably behind that of West. It led to shortages in all consumer goods. Food import increase every year. The Soviet economy turned stagnant in the late 1970's
Disintegration of the soviet union
Crises in the Socialist Bloc
People in many East European countries which were part of Soviet bloc started protest against their own governments and USSR. Without right intervention from USSR at the right time, Communist governments in the second world collapsed one after another.
Policies of Gorbachev
Gorbachev identified the economic and political problems of USSR and started a series of reforms, with its intention to revive economy. This was a deviation from the Communist policies and was more associated with the market economy. Many communist leaders opposed these reforms and they encouraged a coup in 1991.
Opposition Against the Coup
Boris Yeltsin, who won popular election in Russian Republic, protested against the coup and centralised control of USSR.
Shift of Power Power
began to shift from Soviet Centre to Republics, especially in the European states which were part of the Soviet Union, these states saw themselves as Sovereign states.
Reasons for Disintegration
Some of the reasons which are mainly responsible for the disintegration of Soviet Union are discussed below
• Internal weaknesses of Soviet political and economic institutions failed to meet the aspirations of the people.
• The economy of the Soviet Union became stagnant which led to severe consumer shortages and disbelief and doubt in the system.
• The Soviet economy used much of its resources in maintaining a nuclear and military arsenal and the development of its satellite states in Eastern Europe and within the Soviet System, which led to huge economic burden.
- Ordinary citizens also became aware about the economic advancement of the West and disparities between their system and the systems of West.
• The party bureaucrats gained more privileges then ordinary citizens. People did not associate with the system and with the rulers and the government lost citizens' support.
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| Shock Therapy |
Shock Therapy in Post Communist Regimes
Shock Therapy is known as the model of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system. In Russia, Central Asia and East Europe that was capitalist system influenced by the World Bank and the IMF. Though the direction and features were quite similar, but shock therapy varied in intensity and speed amongst the former second world countries.
Following are the features of shock therapy
- It meant that private ownership was to be the dominant pattern of ownership of property.
- Privatization of state assets and corporate ownership patterns were to be immediately brought in.
- Collective farms were to be replaced by private farming an capitalism in agriculture.
- This transition ruled out any alternate or third way', other than state-controlled socialism or capitalism.
Consequences of Shock Therapy
• Destruction of Economy It brought ruin to the economies and disaster upon the people of the entire region. In Russia, the large state-controlled industrial complex almost collapsed, as about 90 per cent of its industries were put up for sale to private individuals and companies.
• Decline of Russian Currency and Import of Food The value of the ruble, declined dramatically. The rate of inflation was so high that people lost all their savings. The collective farm system disintegrated leaving people without food security and Russia started to import food. The real GDP of Russia in 1999 was below what it was in 1989. The old trading structure broke down with no alternative in its place.
• System of Social Welfare Destroyed The old system of social welfare was systematically destroyed. The withdrawal of government subsidies pushed large sections of the people into poverty. The middle classes were pushed to the periphery of society and the academic and intellectual manpower disintegrated or migrated.
• Emergence of Mafia and Privatisation A mafia emerged in most of these countries and started controlling many economic activities. Privatisation led to new disparities. Post-Soviet states, especially Russia, war divided between rich and poor regions. Unlike the earlier system, there was now great economic inequality between people.
Gulf War
The Gulf war, lasted between August 1990 and February 1991, was an international conflict that erupted after Iraq, under dictator Saddam Hussain, invaded neighbouring Kuwait. After Hussain defied UN warnings, the US and its allies forced Iraqi forces out of Kuwait
Series of Events During the Gulf War
Iraq annexed Kuwait, its South-Eastern neighbour 25 times smaller in size on 2nd August, 1990. Although Hussain claimed Kuwait to be part of Iraq, he invaded the region so that Baghdad could cancel a massive debt that it owed Kuwait, as well as acquire Kuwait's large oil resource.
Immediately after, the UN Security Council strongly reprimanded Iraq and warned of military action if its forces did not retreat by 15th January, 1991.
As Hussain refused to pay any attention to UN's many warnings, a US led coalition, consisting of 660,000 troops from 34 countries assembled in Saudi Arabia Iraq's neighbour also threatened by Hussain's adventures in the region.
After 15th January deadline was flouted by Baghdad, coalition forced first launched operation Desert Storm. An American General, Norman Schwarzkopf, led the UN coalition and nearly 75 per cent of the coalition forces were from the US.
Operation Desert Storm is also known as First Gulf War. The war was largely fought in the United States. It exposed the massive technological gap that had developed between US military power and that of other nations.
The highly publicised use of so called smart bombs by the US led some observers to call this a computer war. Widespread television coverage also made it a Video game war with viewers around the world watching the destruction of Iraqi forces live on TV.
The Clinton Years
Despite winning the First Gulf War, George H.W. Bush lost the US presidential elections of 1992 to William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton of the Democratic Party, who had campaigned on domestic rather than foreign policy issues. Bill Clinton won again in 1996 and thus remained the President of the US for eight years.
During the Clinton years, it often seemed that the US had withdrawn into its internal affairs and was not fully engaged in world politics. In foreign policy, the Clinton government tended to focus on 'soft issues' like democracy promotion, climate change and world trade rather than on the 'hard politics' of military power and security.
US Military Actions Under Clinton's Leadership
• The most important episode occurred in 1999, in response to Yugoslavian actions against the predominantly Albanian population in the province of Kosovo. The air forces of the NATO countries, led by the US, bombarded targets around Yugoslavia for over two months, forcing the downfall of the government of Slobodan Milosevic and the stationing of a NATO force in Kosovo.
• Another significant US military action during the Clinton years was in response to the bombing of the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in 1998. These bombings were attributed to Al-Qaeda, a terrorist organisation strongly influenced by extremist Islamist ideas.
9/11 and the 'Global War on Terror'
On 11th September, 2001, nineteen hijackers hailing from a number of Arab countries took control of four American commercial aircraft shortly after takeoff and flew them into important buildings in the US.
One airliner each crashed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. A third aircraft crashed into the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, where the US Defense Department is headquartered.
The fourth aircraft, presumably bound for the Capitol building of the US Congress, came down in a field in Pennsylvania. The attacks have come to be known as 9/11.
Why was Afghanistan at War 292060 with US?
The US invaded Afghanistan along with its its allies after the 11th September, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre, Twin Towers in New York. The US wanted to dismantle the terror infrastructure and eliminate Al-Qaeda that was provided a safe heaven in Afghanistan by the Taliban.
In 2019, the US intensified peace talks with the Taliban in Doha. Officials from the Taliban promised to keep international terrorist groups out of Afghanistan in exchange for the United States withdrawing its troops.
The United States and the Taliban struck an agreement in Sin2020, clearing the stage for the massive withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan. In the days that followed, however, without a ceasefire, Taliban insurgents a series of attacks against Afghan security troops.
As a result, the United States launched an airstrike b against Taliban militants in Helmand province. Thousands of troops had already been removed following the US-Taliban deal.
President Joe Biden declared in 2021 that the US will not meet the 1st May date set by the US-Taliban agreement for troop withdrawals. Instead, he claimed, forces would be totally withdrawn by 11th September, 2021.
Causes of Arab Spring
The causes of the Arab spring can be classified as Economic, Social and sudden causes. These were
Economic Causes
- The global crises played an important role in the rising of the Arab spring. Such as the downfall in the oil prices during 2008-09.
- The rise in price of food leading to food crises gave rise to the political unrest especially in poor countries.
- Increase in unemployment especially among the youths and
- females was one of the most important causes behind Arab Spring.
Social Causes
- Youth bulge, education and awareness among the people and democracy also gave rise to the Arab Spring.
- The demand for political freedom and removal of economic inequalities was one of the major cause behind Arab Spring. The media and internet made the transmission of information and news throughout the world. Mass media declared Arab Spring as 'Social Network Revolution'.
Sudden Cause
Self-immolation of Mohamed a street hawker of Tunisia gave a sudden rise to the Arab spring. His suicide became a means for the occurrence of Tunisian Revolution and widespread Arab Spring.